3 killed, 6 hurt when SUV crashes in northern NJ

JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) — A pregnant woman and a child are among the three people killed in an SUV crash that left six others injured in northern New Jersey, authorities said today.

The crash happened Saturday night on Route 15 near an intersection in Jefferson Township.

Investigators the vehicle suddenly swerved and left the roadway before overturning, ejecting several passengers.

Lucila Colon, 62, and Tevia Booth, 11, died at the scene, while Julissa Colon, 36, died later at a hospital, Morris County prosecutors said. Julissa Colon was five months pregnant, and her fetus didn’t survive. It wasn’t immediately clear if the two Colons were related.

The SUV’s driver, 37-year-old Luis Torres of Jersey City, was being held today on $750,000 cash bail. He’s charged with three counts each of aggravated manslaughter and vehicular homicide and five counts of assault by auto.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether Torres had an attorney or what might have caused the crash.

Torres and the remaining passengers — all from Jersey City — suffered moderate to serious injuries.